Starting with a Wei Wu soldier

It was midday, and sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting dappled shadows on the rolling hills and sparse woodlands. Ten miles east of Xinghuo Fortress, outside a mountain valley called "Eagle Beak Rock," dust billowed and the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

The attackers were none other than the remnants of the "Wild Fox Plain Balut tribe" that Wujuer had mentioned. However, the leader this time was no longer the captured Wujuer, but rather a force of over forty riders personally led by the Balut tribe's chieftain, Tufahe! Twenty-odd of these were the tribe's last remaining able-bodied elites, while the other twenty-odd were temporarily conscripted herdsmen, armed with miscellaneous weapons, serving as a show of force. Tufahe was about fifty years old, short and stocky, with a face full of scars, and his triangular eyes flashed with violence and anxiety. When news of the annihilation of Wujuer's thirty riders reached them, the tribe was shaken, and fear gripped the people. The neighboring Ulolan tribe to the west seemed to have also sensed the danger and began frequent activity in the border pastures. Tufahe was both shocked and furious, heartbroken by the loss of his elite troops and even more terrified that his tribe would decline and be annexed as a result. In his shock and anger, he decided to personally lead the expedition, using the last of the tribe's available resources, to the south to find the mysterious Han Chinese group and seek revenge. At the same time, he also planned to plunder extensively to stabilize morale with the spoils and replenish the tribe's resources, which were depleted due to poor pastures.

However, on their way south, they did not head straight for Starfire Fortress. Instead, near Eagle's Beak Rock, they unexpectedly ran into another team.

The besieged group numbered about a hundred. Of these, only thirty or forty were capable warriors on horseback; the rest were mostly women, children, the elderly, and the infirm, their wagons laden with belongings forming a makeshift circular formation. Most striking was the figure at the heart of this group: a woman clad in fiery red riding attire, wielding a long spear! She appeared to be in her early twenties, with a healthy tan, striking features, a high, straight nose, and eyes as bright as cold stars. At this moment, she was intently focused on her enemy, charging back and forth on her horse around the outer edge of the wagon formation, her spear flashing like a dragon, exceptionally agile. Her red cloak billowed behind her like a leaping flame.

Her thirty-odd riders were clearly well-trained. Despite being outnumbered, they formed tight squads, relying on the wagon formation to cover each other and engage the barbarian cavalry in close combat. Arrows shot out intermittently from the gaps in the wagon formation, not densely, but quite accurately. The women and children hid inside the wagon formation, their faces pale, but none of them cried out. They were protected by strong young men with swords, and several teenagers, holding hunting bows, trembling as they nocked arrows and aimed them outwards.

"They're Han Chinese! But not ordinary refugees!" Bald He reined in his horse on a slightly higher earthen slope to watch the battle, his triangular eyes revealing greed and suspicion. "Judging from that woman's marksmanship, the coordination of those riders... could they be a routed government army? Or a private army that escaped from a fortified village?" He licked his dry, cracked lips. "Who cares who they are! Good men and horses, and the carts look like they've got a lot of stuff! Kids, give it your all! Kill them, and the women and valuables are all ours! That woman in red, I want her alive!"

Upon hearing this, the Hu cavalry let out howls and their attack intensified. Relying on their superior speed, they constantly flanked the chariot formation from both sides, hurling arrows at it or attempting to break through any gaps. The woman in red led her riders in a valiant defense, her spear thrusting left and right, already killing three Hu cavalrymen. She herself was struck by an arrow in the arm, but paid no heed, snapping the arrow shaft in two and continuing the fight. Her clear commands were decisive, and several loyal guards followed her closely, temporarily halting the Hu cavalry's relentless onslaught.

However, the two sides were vastly outnumbered, and the Hu cavalry were a fresh force, while the women in red were exhausted after their long journey. Under the repeated attacks of the Hu cavalry, the chariot formation began to falter. A section consisting of old and weak chariots was forcefully cut open by several fierce Hu warriors, and several Hu cavalrymen charged into the formation with howls, their scimitars slashing at the panicked women and children!

"Mother—!" A child's scream was particularly piercing.

"Ah Lian! Hold the left flank! Uncle Wang, lead men to fill the gap!" The woman in red shouted fiercely, her eyes bloodshot. She forced back the enemy in front of her with a spear thrust and turned her horse to return to the rescue. However, Hu cavalrymen entangled her on the flank, and she was unable to break free for the time being.

At this critical moment, Zhao Qing, the sentry on duty at the eastern watchtower of Xinghuo Fortress, once again demonstrated his excellent eyesight. He was originally monitoring the path leading east to Black Mountain as ordered, but he vaguely heard a cacophony carried on the wind, unlike the usual mountain wind—it was the clang of metal and the shouts of men and horses!

He immediately raised his telescope, adjusted the focus, and strained to look eastward. After crossing several low mountain ridges, about seven or eight miles away, dust and smoke from the direction of Eagle Beak Rock and indistinct, swaying figures came into view. He focused intently and could vaguely discern that two groups of people were fighting. One side was clearly dressed in nomadic cavalry and numbered greatly; the other side relied on a wagon formation, among which a striking red figure was particularly eye-catching.

"East! To the direction of Eagle's Beak Rock! A large force of Hu cavalry is besieging a group! It's quite large, probably forty or fifty Hu cavalry. The besieged group seems to have a wagon formation, and a man in red is leading the resistance!" Zhao Qing dared not be negligent. While continuing to observe, he shouted a warning down to the tower and lit the beacon fire that signified "large-scale enemy activity in the east"—three plumes of black smoke rose straight up.

As soon as the smoke of war rose, alarm bells rang throughout the fortress! The soldiers of the Xinghuo Battalion, who had just finished their midday drills and were resting, immediately donned their armor, took up their weapons, and quickly assembled. Chen Wei and Zhao Tiezhu strode up the east wall.

"What happened?" Chen Wei asked in a deep voice.

Zhao Qing quickly reported what he had seen. Chen Wei took the telescope and looked, and sure enough, he saw dust rising in the distance, and a fierce battle was raging. He frowned: "The barbarian cavalry... judging from their direction, they seem to be coming from the Wild Fox Plains. Why aren't they coming to seek revenge on us? Why are they fighting with someone in the east? That besieged force... judging from their chariot formation and defensive tactics, they are definitely not ordinary refugees!"

Zhao Tiezhu also came over to take a look, and exclaimed in surprise, "Goodness, there are quite a few Hu people! Is that one in red a woman? She's quite a fighter!"

At this moment, Chen Xing also rushed to the top of the wall upon hearing the news. After listening to the report, he gazed into the distance, his eyes falling on the red figure leaping through the smoke and dust, a strange light flashing in his eyes. In this chaotic world, a woman leading a group to fight against the barbarian cavalry—such a person was no ordinary individual.

"My lord, what should we do?" Chen Wei asked for instructions. "Judging from the situation, that force won't last long. The Hu cavalry is powerful. If we let them annihilate that force and return victorious, their arrogance will only grow stronger, which could be detrimental to our fortress. Moreover... it is not the way for Starfire Fortress to survive to stand by and watch it perish."

Zhao Tiezhu also said, "My lord, those barbarian dogs are so arrogant! We just wiped out thirty of their riders, and they dare not come after us, yet they bully other Han Chinese groups! We can't just stand by and watch!"

Chen Xing pondered. He naturally knew that refusing to come to the rescue would damage his moral reputation, and allowing the Hu cavalry to win easily and grow stronger would indeed be detrimental to Xinghuo Fortress. However, sending troops rashly was also very risky. The enemy Hu cavalry numbered forty or fifty. If his main force was deployed, the fortress would be left vulnerable; if he deployed insufficient troops, he feared he would be unable to relieve the siege and would instead find himself in a dangerous situation.

He quickly weighed the situation: the elite of the Wild Fox tribe had been lost, and although they outnumbered the others, their siege was disorganized and their morale was low due to the prolonged siege. The besieged force was quite formidable, and a pincer attack from both inside and outside would certainly offer a chance of victory. A victory in this battle would not only further dampen the morale of the Wild Fox tribe and rescue the besieged force, potentially securing a powerful ally, but would also provide more information about the area north of Black Mountain and even the origins of this particular force.

"This is a golden opportunity!" Chen Xing declared decisively. "Chen Wei, you must lead the entire elite cavalry, along with the first and second garrison squads, out of the fortress immediately, lightly equipped, to reinforce Eagle's Beak Rock! The elite cavalry will act as the vanguard, striking directly at the flanks and rear of the Hu cavalry to disrupt their formation! The garrison squads will spread out on both flanks to coordinate with the elite cavalry in a pincer movement! Rescuing the besieged troops is the primary objective; annihilating the enemy is secondary. If the Hu cavalry retreats, do not pursue them too far; be wary of a trap!"

"Yes, sir!" Chen Wei accepted the order, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Zhao Tiezhu, you and Zhou Dashan, lead the remaining troops and auxiliary soldiers to strictly guard the fortresses and raise many flags as a diversion. Wang Jian, keep a close watch on the prisoners and the labor camps. In this critical period, if there is any unusual activity, kill them without exception!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Li Shu, record the roster of the soldiers going to war. Mr. Wu, come with me to the wall to observe the battle and command with the flags."

With the order given, the fortress gates reopened. Led by Chen Wei, over 170 elite warriors shot off like arrows towards Eagle's Beak Rock in the east! In the ranks, the elite soldiers' black armor reflected a cold light, while the garrison soldiers marched in close formation. On their young faces, the tension of the initial battle had faded, replaced by a calm and eagerness born from the experience of blood and fire.

Standing atop the wall, Chen Xing watched the rapidly departing troops. He wasn't entirely confident, yet a surge of pride welled up within him. For Starfire Fortress to establish itself in this chaotic world, defense was crucial, but when the time came to draw its sword, it had to do so decisively! This was not merely a rescue operation, but also an opportunity to demonstrate its strength and resolve to the surrounding powers.

His gaze fell once more on the vibrant red figure in the distance, and he thought to himself: I wonder who that heroine is, that she could lead her troops to fight so fiercely in this place surrounded by barbarian cavalry.

The battle beneath Eagle's Beak Rock had reached its most critical moment. The gap in the wagon formation was widening, and more and more barbarian cavalry were breaking through. The cries and screams of women and children echoed continuously. The woman in red suffered another wound, her riding attire stained halfway with blood. She gritted her teeth, her spear technique becoming erratic. Only five or six guards remained by her side, all wounded.

Bald He, watching from the hillside, burst into laughter: "Men! Give it your all! That woman's about to give up! Capture her, and there'll be a hefty reward!"

The Hu cavalry howled like wolves that had caught the scent of blood, and their attack became even more frenzied.

Just as the group of women in red were about to be exhausted and overwhelmed, a series of deep and orderly footsteps suddenly came from the eastern mountain ridge, along with a heart-pounding clanging sound of nail plates rubbing together!

Immediately following, a large black banner appeared atop the ridge, a simple "star" character fluttering in the wind. Beneath the banner, rows of armored warriors emerged like an iron wall, their long halberds gleaming menacingly in the afternoon sun! Further behind, more soldiers in grey uniforms followed closely, banners waving, drums and horns silent, yet their silent and resolute advance carried an overwhelming pressure!

"Reinforcements?! Where did these reinforcements come from?!" Bald He's smile froze on his face, his triangular eyes filled with horror. Look at those flags, that armor, that formation… these are no ordinary local bandits! Could it be… the stronghold that wiped out Wuju'er's thirty riders?

The woman in red, locked in fierce combat, also sensed something amiss. She parried a blow with all her might and, glancing eastward, saw the well-organized Han army rapidly deploying on the ridge, charging straight towards the flank and rear of the Hu cavalry! Her spirits lifted instantly, and she shouted sharply, "Brothers! Hold on! Reinforcements are coming!"

A miraculous escape! The survivors within the car formation mustered their last strength and fought desperately to hold on.

Chen Wei stood atop the hill, overlooking the battlefield below, taking in the chaos of the Hu cavalry and the predicament of the besieged troops. He pointed his longsword forward, his voice like thunder: "Spark Camp! Attack—!"

"Kill the barbarians! Save our comrades!"

Amidst deafening roars, the elite troops surged down the hillside like a torrent of steel, plunging straight into the densest flank of the barbarian cavalry! The garrison troops split into two groups, flanking from the left and right, cutting off the barbarian cavalry's retreat, and charging towards the gap in the wagon formation to support those who were surrounded.

The sudden arrival of this fresh force, well-equipped, in perfect formation, and exuding a murderous aura, threw the Hu cavalry, who were besieging the chariot formation and confident of victory, into chaos. Many Hu soldiers frantically turned their horses to meet the attack, only to find the black-armored halberds pressing down like a mountain, their momentum already diminished by three-tenths.

The bloody battle resumes. But this time, the tide has turned.

Beneath Eagle's Beak Rock, three forces clashed in a fierce battle. The black and gray of Starfire Fortress, the tattered fur coats of the Balut tribe, and that stubborn, unyielding red, intertwined in this desolate mountain valley, creating a tragic and unpredictable scene.

Murong Mingyue, this red-clad woman with a tragic fate, finally encountered an unexpected turning point at the brink of life and death. Her encounter with Chen Xing, the lord of Xinghuo Fortress, is about to begin amidst the clash of swords and the shadows of war.